What is that Tudor thing that falls out of women's knickers?

[FinallyRelief]

Ok a while back there was this thread about what bleurgh things people have learned on Mumsnet and I've lost the name of it - but people/ladies of Tudor times - I think? They didn't wash so like would deposit things - mousekins? Moshekins?

It's disturbed me then and now I can't remember the name!!

Sootikins, I believe

It's not true.

It's a made up thing by someone wanting to gross people out or otherwise make out how disgusting they think women are/were.

It's from the Book of Disgusting Facts - which is a fictional work.

It's a nonsense. Think about it. If you were unable to wash between your legs you'd scratch - or I would. You wouldn't let debris build up to the size of a mouse..

It's called sootikins and it's a misogynistic load of crap (literally!). It's a myth designed to reinforce the idea that women are gross.

Merkin?.....a wig to look like fancy pubic hair?

Henry VIII I expect.

I've never heard of that. I uess people were less knowledgeable about that kind of thing then, it seems pretty illogical, the vagina just doesn't work that way.

@betteliefsen

I thought it was what the line ‘frightened a mouse from under her chair was about’

And it was a precursor to the tampon

How on earth could it build up when vaginas are self cleaning?

I’d only ever heard it as a name for a cat!

@betteliefsen what a larf !!
Regarding the title of this hilarious thread . . .did they wear drawers in the 16th century ??

@ThatsHowWeRowl

It's called sootikins and it's a misogynistic load of crap (literally!). It's a myth designed to reinforce the idea that women are gross.

This.

Um, a merkin? A chastity belt?

Or could be a merkin, which was a pubic wig. People wore them to disguise the fact that their real hair had been shaved off after a dose of the clap

Merkin.
It’s a pubic wig.
Enjoy

Someone named a cat ''Merkin?''

🙀

They did wash, anyway. Far more often than they took baths. Why would anyone with access to water and a cloth not wash?

did they wear drawers in the 16th century ??
Unlikely....Ikea hadn't been invented yet.

I think they may have had some sort of ''split crotch'' pantaloon thing, so one could wee without undressing.

I thought sootikins were real - I'm certain somebody on MN had one once and everyone was - it's probably in Classics!

But it wasn't a build up of dead skin etc - it was something like a fibroid from the vagina that had come out in a lump.

I used to have a cat called Merkin (she was one URRRRRRRGLY cat but a delightful little tortoiseshell) - she was normally found in your lap, you see.

Re: drawers, they were very racy things in the 16th and 17th century. Worn by courtesans, sort of thing. There are a few pairs still in museums.